The project involved widening and improving 1.56 miles of Kautz Road from Longest Drive to Swensen Avenue in Geneva and St. Charles as a north-south corridor. Work began in summer 2024 and was completed in spring 2025.

The $6.2 million project also replaced failing pavement, improved drainage and safety, enabled trucks, completed bike trail connections and will support economic development, officials said.

Speaking to the City Council March 2, City Engineer Brian Davids, who led the project, said it involved Geneva, St. Charles, West Chicago, Kane and DuPage counties and the jurisdictions of DuPage Airport and the Union Pacific Railroad.

Davids described Kautz Road as having a lot of challenges – going back and forth between two and three lanes, not being able to accommodate truck traffic and flooding.

Stormwater infrastructure was installed along the whole section, improving drainage and ending the flooding, Davids said.

“It went from a three-lane cross-section – so one lane each way with a center lane – down to a two-lane cross-section, then back out to a three-lane cross-section,” Davids said. “What’s less obvious about that is that two-lane cross-section was also not a truck route. ... Anybody bringing in large truckloads had to go around and probably up through Swenson or up to Route 64, rather than being able to access that directly from Route 38.”

The new stormwater system connects to the airport’s trunk line, so the houses on the St. Charles side won’t flood anymore, he said.

“The Illinois Prairie Path now connects from the west side of Kautz Road all the way from Route 64 to Route 38,” Davids said. “There is not only vehicle connectivity, but there is also bike connectivity, which is a huge improvement for this area.”

Davids also cited the MWI Property Group, which owns more than 200 acres zoned light industrial on the south side of Illinois Route 38.

The City Council approved a tax increment financing district – or TIF – to help pay for the signalization, utility extensions and stormwater management for the Kautz project, officials said in 2024.

A TIF is a tool local governments use to encourage development.

“This then is just a really nice continuation of an industrial corridor ... that connects everything from that new industrial park ... to that airport, as well as Route 64,” Davids said.

The project also required land acquisition.

Part of the city’s curb encroached on a parcel at the southwest corner of Averill and Kautz roads that was privately owned – but the landowner did not know he owned it, he said.

“We had to do a bunch of digging and ultimately found out that this person got this from their family, passed down to them,” Davids said, “They basically didn’t want to own up to the fact that they had it, because that would mean that they had to pay back taxes.”

A section of Kautz Road also has a jog in it because the first few landowners on the St. Charles side did not want to give up any land, Davids said.

“They thought when we stopped bugging them ... that meant we were not just going to do the project,” Davids said. “We took more from the east side because the airport was willing to work with us on that. So there’s a little bit of a jog. It’s not significant. You don’t feel it when you’re driving.”

Mayor Kevin Burns asked if drivers should honk when they go north to St. Charles through that section.

“I won’t advise that,” Davids said. “I don’t want those residents mad at me.”

Almost $5 million, or 78%, of the cost was to be provided by the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, Truck Access Route Program and the Kane/Kendall Council of Mayors Surface Transportation Program, according to the intergovernmental agreement. The cities shared the rest, officials said.

The Fox Valley Branch of the APWA will submit the Kautz Road project for consideration at the Chicago Metro Chapter level, which includes 1,500 members in five branches throughout the region, officials said.

The award is the seventh for Geneva to earn Project of the Year.

Previous recognitions were for State Street improvements in 1995; Third Street improvements in 2002; the Water Treatment Facility Construction in 2009; the Third Street commuter parking deck in 2016; the Wastewater Treatment Plan update and South Street Bridge replacement, both in 2019.

APWA is an international association representing public agencies, private sector companies and individuals in public works.

He reported two damaged signs on Feb. 24 in Campton Hills and one stolen sign in Campton Township March 8, records show. The signs are valued $40 to $50 apiece and the poles are about $10 apiece, Johansen said.

But for Johansen, cost is not the issue.

“The signs that people put out are the principal means by which the public knows who the candidates are,” Johansen said. “If your signs are being torn down or removed, then your election is being interfered with by somebody. It’s denying the voting public information and the opportunity to know who the candidates are. I feel that has happened in my case.”

In Campton Hills, two signs on the south side of Illinois Route 64 east of La Fox Road in Campton Hills, were damaged, according to a police report Johansen filed.

“There were two green-colored metal poles which were secured into the ground,” according to the Feb. 24 Campton Hills police report. “The poles were bent towards the west. The poles were bent approximately ninety degrees and nearly detached from the section in the ground. The campaign sign remained attached to the pieces of the poles. However, the sign was lying on the ground.”

The property owner told police he gave Johansen permission to post his signs there, according to the report.

Police also checked a local business, but it did not have video surveillance in the area of the signs.

In a March 9 email which he sent to a Kane deputy and a Campton Hills officer, Johansen wrote that in all, five 4x4 signs were taken or damaged at the intersection of La Fox Road and Illinois Route 38 – while other candidates’ signs for Republicans Jeff Walter, Chris Lauzen and Rob Russell were left standing.

Walter, currently the village president of Elburn, is seeking the GOP nomination for the 11th Congressional District to run against incumbent Democrat Bill Foster in the Nov. 3 general election.

Lauzen is unopposed in the primary, seeking a second term as treasurer and Russell is seeking the GOP nomination to run for sheriff.

Johansen said he believed his signs were targeted, and he planned to report it to the State’s Attorney’s Office.

In an email, State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser said Johansen had not contacted her office, but reinforced that damaging or stealing campaign signs is illegal.

“Stealing or damaging campaign signs of the kind alleged here would likely constitute misdemeanor theft,” Mosser’s email stated. “Neither offense is a felony. Stealing or damaging campaign signs is illegal and undemocratic. Anyone who witnesses political yard signs being vandalized or stolen should report it to law enforcement by contacting their local police department’s non-emergency number.”

Mosser’s email stated that criminal election interference is related to public funds, not damaging or stealing campaign signs.

Johansen has two opponents in the March 17 primary, Candida “Connie” Cain and current Kane Auditor Penny Wegman.

Kane County Democratic Chairman Mark Guethle said the party does not support that kind of behavior.

“We’re against all that,” Guethle said. “Leave people’s signs alone and go ahead and vote. There is no need to be tampering with people’s property.”

David Hanson was charged Nov. 6 with multiple felony counts of producing, disseminating and possessing images of child sexual abuse material and unauthorized video recording of children under age 18, records show.

Hanson, wearing black-and-white-striped detainee garb, stood next to his attorney Matthew Haiduk as Circuit Judge Donald Tegeler Jr. read the charges in the indictment, including dozens of Class X felony counts of related to the alleged production and dissemination of child sex abuse material.

If those charges lead to a conviction, the Class X felonies are punishable by six to 30 years in prison, with 30 to 60 years being a possible extended term, Tegeler said, noting the charges are not probationable. In Illinois law, an extended term can be added if aggravating factors are considered.

Additionally, Hanson faces multiple counts of possession of child sex abuse material, Class 2 felonies, which if convicted are punishable by three to seven years in prison, with the extended term being seven to 14 years, Tegeler said.

Such a sentence would also be served concurrently – that is, at the same time – if convicted of more than one charge, the judge said. These are probationable offenses.

Other charges Hanson faces are multiple counts of unauthorized video recordings, Class 4 felonies. If convicted of those, the punishment is one to three years in prison, with three to six years for the extended term, Tegeler said.

“If you were found guilty of every offense that I have now listed, based upon these cases, the minimum sentence ... would be 268 years, the maximum sentence – figuring everything out, if I’ve done this correctly – would be 1,331 years,” Tegeler said.

“When I take that on a day-for-day basis, the minimum sentence you’d serve would be 134 years, the maximum sentence would be 665 years,” Tegeler said.

Day-for-day refers to a day taken off a sentence for every day served with good behavior.

“If you were found guilty of all counts, your out date would be somewhere in the area of the year 2160 on the minimum side,” Tegeler said. “On the maximum side – and that is without any credit for time served – on the maximum side if I have done my addition correctly, your maximum out date would be the year 2691 in relation to these cases. My first question to you is, do you understand the possible sentencing ranges on these charges?”

“Yes,” Hanson answered.

“You are presumed innocent of all these charges,” Tegeler said.

The judge asked Haiduk if there was a plea on behalf of his client.

“Not guilty on all counts,” Haiduk answered.

Tegeler set May 21 for the next court date, Sept. 10 for a pretrial meeting and Sept. 14 for jury selection.

According to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, Hanson allegedly disseminated videos of his own patients online. Prosecutors have also said they believe Hanson acted alone.

Hanson is being held in the Kendall County jail for his own safety while his criminal case is pending.

Hanson also faces seven civil lawsuits related to his alleged secret recordings of the chiropractic patients in a room set aside for red light and near-infrared therapy.

The Monday vote was 6-2 with one abstention after more than an hour of discussion and public comment for the LaFox Road TIF District.

The Joint Review Board is made up of representatives of the taxing bodies affected by creating the TIF district – in that the equalized assessed values of the properties would be frozen, while increased revenue would be diverted to pay for public improvements.

A tax increment finance district – known as a TIF – is a development tool municipalities use to encourage development in blighted areas too expensive for private dollars alone. TIF districts typically last 23 years, but can be extended.

“The joint review board’s role is limited to review the redevelopment area, the redevelopment plan and make an advisory recommendation,” village attorney Carmen Forte said.

The next step is a public hearing scheduled for April 7, with the village board taking final action no later than April 21, officials said.

SB Friedman Development Advisors’ eligibility study found that the acreage itself does not flood, but it contributes to flooding in the Mill Creek watershed, fulfilling one of the legal requirements to create a TIF district.

The TIF would provide public funding for redevelopment by addressing flooding and facilitating the assembly of various parcels of land, Friedman partner Geoff Dickinson said.

“The goals and objectives are pretty general in nature,” Dickinson said of how the $90 million in TIF increments would be spent. “We think most of the money is going to be spent on site preparation and ... public works.”

• $45 million for public works construction

• $40 million for property assembly and site preparation

• $2 million for administration and professional services

• $1 million for site marketing

• $800,000 for financing

• $800,000 for capital costs

• $400,000 payments in lieu of taxes

About 25 people attended the meeting at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Campton Hills.

Yvonne and Carl Dinwiddie of Batavia both objected to creating a TIF under any circumstances, arguing that taxes are being diverted to support companies that already have enough money.

“When you have a TIF district, you – the taxpayer – are paying for the developer to develop his property,” Yvonne said. “Do you want to give it away to someone who already has enough money?”

Carl Dinwiddie said the proliferation of TIFs is not sustainable.

“It has to stop,” Carl said. “We can’t afford it and our schools can’t afford it.”

Jay Moffat, board president of the Geneva Park District, said the TIF would cost the park district $350 million in lost assessed value.

“The TIF freezes the amount of tax revenue at $1,800,” Moffat said. “This development will eventually be worth over a billion dollars in real estate (value). ... We welcome future residents. The problem is, we can’t afford to build parks if there is no income coming in.”

Moffat suggested that village officials instead consider creating special service areas to develop neighborhood parks for their new residents.

“Once the TIF is over, future boards of the Geneva Park District would gladly accept the parks and the SSAs would no longer be needed,” Moffat said.

Kane County Board President Corinne Pierog said the western part of the Kane County water aquifer is shallow, so the developer would have to drill into deeper aquifers to maintain the water supply for 900 new homes.

“I’d like you all to imagine, one day, 15 years from now. You just bought a home for $800,000. You turn on the water faucet and you get muck,” Pierog said. “We can’t build something that does not have that long-term support.”

Geneva Public Library Executive Director Christine Lazaris said a TIF would negatively impact the library district.

“It is placing a burden on us,” Lazaris said.

Lazaris and Geneva Park District Executive Director Nicole Vickers cast the two no votes while Elburn Fire Chief Michael Huneke abstained.

Geneva District 304 Superintendent Andrew Barrett, Blackberry Township Supervisor Esther Steel, Waubonsee Community College Assistant Vice President of Finance Darrin Kader, public member Joe Garbarski, Campton Hills Village Administrator Mark Rooney and Pierog all voted yes.

In November 2025, Crow and five other Democratic lawmakers made a public video that told military members that they do not have to obey illegal orders. Though President Donald Trump accused them of “seditious behavior,” a federal indictment against them failed.

“It wasn’t about me,” Crow, a U.S. Army veteran, said March 8 at the Q Center in St. Charles.

“What it was about was Donald Trump trying to crush his opponents and silence dissent,” Crow said. “Donald Trump was simply trying to send a message through me – through us – that if you speak up, if you dare question his authority, if you step out of line – that you will be crushed. That the weight of the government, of his machine, will be too much for any one person to take.”

Crow paused, then said, “Well, he chose the wrong people to send that message,” prompting the crowd to erupt in applause and cheers.

“The phase that we are in – in this creeping authoritarianism spreading across our country – the phase we are in is the extraction of power,” Crow said. “It is our responsibility to draw that line, to hold it, to push back on it.”

Crow said the biggest division in the Democratic party is between those who understand the threat Trump poses and those who think the situation is normal.

“The situation is not normal and we will not act like it,” Crow said.

The situation is also about courage versus cowardice, with both in full display, he said.

“There is no shortage of examples of cowardice in our country. We have politicians cowering and sometimes, just as bad, pretending that things are normal. We have CEOs capitulating, law firms buckling, universities bending the knee,” Crow said.

“But this is not their story. It is never the story of the cowards,” Crow said. “It is never the story in history of those who didn’t rise ... It is never the elite and the privileged who come to our aid and defend us. It is those who have the most to lose. It is those with a sense of purpose and commitment to something bigger than themselves that rise to the occasion.”

Crow cited the Greatest Generation, credited with fighting fascism in World War II, and Freedom Riders, who fought for racial equality in the Jim Crow South.

Crow said he believes Trump is counting on fear spreading so that people opt out.

He drew on his own experience as a paratrooper serving three combat tours in Iraq to describe a metaphor for the nation.

“There is a tradition in the American paratroopers,” Crow said. “When you’re in the plane, flying over your objectives and you’re getting ready to jump out. The leader of the unit goes first. The highest-ranking person in the plane jumps first. What that tradition is based on is that courage is far more contagious than fear. We have to prepare our people, lead with courage and jump first.”

But Crow said it was not enough to counter the current administration. He said Democrats need their own vision of what they want the country to be.

“We can’t defeat something with nothing,” Crow said.

Growing up Catholic in a working-class family, Crow said the country did not deliver for his family and not for others, calling the American Dream broken and dead.

“I realized the system was rigged and was rigged for most working-class folks in this country,” he said. “Whether Democrat or Republican, if you are in this for yourself or if you are in this for corrupt means – giving in to special interests – we are coming for you and we are overturning that system.”

Crow said the Democrats need to inspire the next generation of servant leaders to step up and go into public service.

He advocated for a national initiative to pay for job training and college in exchange for national service.

“What we need is not just to win elections, but we need to inspire that next generation of servant leaders with courage, with preparation, with tenacity with a commitment to unrigging the system to spark a movement around this country to build something new.”

Crow warned that it will get worse before it gets better.

“We are in great danger as a nation right now ... but there is a path through it. That’s why you are all sitting here tonight,” Crow said. “Now is the time, Kane County, to get Americans ready, to inspire them and to jump first. Let’s get this done.”

Ladarius A. Parker, 27, was found guilty March 3 in the death of Christopher B. McMorris, 30, according to the release.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Kelly Orland and Brandon Raney presented facts in court that in the early morning of May 2, 2021, Parker was attending a party at a house along Stonegate Drive in Montgomery when he shot and killed McMorris as he sat in a vehicle parked, according to the release.

Montgomery police investigated with assistance from the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, the Kane County SWAT Team, the Kendall County Special Response Team and the Aurora, Oswego, Yorkville and Freeport police, according to the release.

The U.S. Marshal Service arrested Parker Jan. 7, 2022 in Freeport, according to the release.

“My deepest condolences continue to go out to the victim’s family,” Orland said in the release. “While nothing can undo their loss, I hope that they can now take some comfort in knowing that the perpetrator of Mr. McMorris’s death has been brought to justice.”

Orland also commended all the law enforcement agencies “for their thorough and persistent investigation which led to this conviction.”

“Thank you also to ASA Brandon Raney, Victim Advocate Martha Martinez, and Victim Advocate Darlene Rodriguez for your dedication and work on this case,” Orland said in the release.

Parker remains in custody at the Kane County jail. He’s due to be sentenced May 1. First-degree murder, a Class M felony, is punishable by 20 years to life in prison if convicted.

Owners Andrea Redmond and Vince Balistreri built a loyal following for their inventive cuisine, known for modern fusion with classic dishes and offering meticulous presentation and bold flavor.

“To reach 20 years is a meaningful milestone for us,” Balistreri said in the release. “We’re grateful to our guests and the Geneva community for their continued support, and we’re excited to celebrate this year while looking ahead to what’s next.”

Niche, at 14 S. Third St., earned regional and national recognition for its food, drink program and hospitality, reinforcing its reputation as a standout dining destination.

Niche is also known for its beverages of fine wines, craft beers and small-batch bourbon and whiskey.

To highlight its anniversary year, Niche will host a series of curated monthly dinners listed on its website nichegeneva.com.

Niche will also offer two celebratory dinners with a commemorative multi-course menu on Aug. 26 and 27, the release stated.

As part of its anniversary celebration, Niche is expanding with a new back patio, which is scheduled to open this summer.

Officials have hosted 142 people who toured the current facility at 20 Police Plaza, but they’ve also hosted virtual tours and tracked participants for those: 707 on YouTube, 10,500 on Instagram, 9,200 on Facebook, City Administrator Alex Voigt said at a recent Committee of the Whole meeting.

Also tallied for watching the referendum commercial are 71 on YouTube, 1,154 on Instagram, 4,700 on Facebook and 582 on X, formerly known as Twitter, she said.

About 85 people attended the Strategic Plan Advisory Council’s three open houses.

“A lot of good conversations were had,” Voigt said.

SPAC is also hosting a new podcast, Let’s Talk Geneva, Voigt said.

“I would definitely encourage your residents to check that out if they’re looking for a bit of a deeper dive on some of the topics,” Voigt said. “We are still posting referendum review blogs twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, again trying to hit on various topics that we hear feedback from the community on.”

The city’s Referendum Information page links to the city’s social media, the commercial and podcasts.

Officials determined the city needed a new police facility as the current one was not designed for police. They’ve also said the space is inadequate for modern policing needs.

Fourth Ward Alderperson Amy Mayer said she would encourage Geneva voters to listen to the Let’s Talk Geneva podcast.

“I think that the insights that come from having that very in-depth conversation with our police officers and the chief – it really forms the reason why what they do is so valuable to our community and that the facility is in need of updating, for sure,” Mayer said.

Fifth Ward Alderperson Jeff Palmquist recommended listening to the third podcast, as it features the architect and the construction manager.

“If you haven’t heard that one, definitely listen or have your constituents listen,” Palmquist said. “It addresses a lot of the questions I’ve had – just about why is it sized the way it was, why is it located (on South Street) – all that information is all articulated on one of the tabs on referendum info. ... To hear them speak and the interview was very skilled to give that information in very conversational form.”

There’s still more chances for residents to hear from city officials on the referendum before the March 17 primary election.

Fifth Ward alderpersons Mark Reinecke and Palmquist are hosting an information session at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at the Geneva History Museum, 113 S. Third St.

First Ward Alderpersons Anaïs Bowring and William Malecki are hosting an information session from 9 t 11 a.m. Sunday, March 15, at Five & Hoek Coffee, 416 W. State St.

The city also ran messages on its utility bills in February and Reinecke wrote an OpEd in the Kane County Chronicle on Thursday, Feb. 26. The letter is also available to read online.

The referendum page also includes a tax calculator. If a home has a market value of $550,000, the property tax impact of the referendum would be $459.

Officials said once a new facility is built, the city would sell the current location for redevelopment and use the proceeds to lower the cost of the bonds.

Indivisible Fox Valley Rising, Fox Valley Activists, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Elgin and Western Township Democrats, HIKE Indivisible Elgin and We Can Lead Change organized the March 7 rally at the office, 540 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, to coincide with a National Day of Action hosted by Stand Up For Science.

“This is a national effort, so we joined it,” said Ellen Jo Ljung of Geneva. “The purpose of the rally for science is to bring attention to the way the current administration is throwing away science in favor of bigotry and ideas that are unproven. And we look at what’s happening with vaccines, climate, health care in general.”

Attorneys general from 15 states, led by Democrats – including Illinois – and the governor of Pennsylvania, sued the Trump administration over changes to the recommended childhood vaccine schedule. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul also joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a $600 million cut in U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants.

“We have polio coming back,” Ljung said. “There’s a warning to travelers that it’s no longer safe to go outside the country. It’s not considered endemic in the U.S., but we are no longer polio-free. There’s a case in Rockland County, New York.”

The National Institutes of Health reported the case in 2022 of an unvaccinated adult living in an area with low vaccination rates, according to its website.

“Initially, this was going to be a science-only march, but added democracy because the war hit and we were not accepting that,” said Miki Powell of St. Charles. “We will have a bigger turnout. People are not happy.”

Kane County Board member Bill Tarver, D-Batavia, said in a text message that, “This administration’s continual suppression of scientific research and promotion of misinformation threaten our health and safety.”

“By denying facts, they jeopardize local public health, undermine the agricultural economy, and impact environmental protections,” according to Tarver’s text. “Demanding evidence-based policy is essential to protect the community’s future. Our residents are really feeling the affects of not having qualified people in charge and this rally is another way to speak up and show we do not support them.”

A pro-science rally also is scheduled for 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Federal Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn St., Chicago. The St. Charles and Chicago rallies are the only two in Illinois.

According to the website, 30 other states are also listing pro-science rallies on Saturday, including Wichita, Kansasa, Toledo, Ohio, Sedona, Arizona, Chevy Chase, Maryland, Madison, Wisconsin, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and Toco Hills, Georgia.

Those who cannot attend can register for a virtual rally being held in Washington, D.C., through Zoom.

“She had already graduated from school and then she was just home, there was not anything available and it was up to me to keep her meaningfully occupied all day long,” Poole, of Elburn, said. “It was just something I couldn’t do.”

The family looked for programs that could serve someone with autism who was also deaf.

“What we were finding were things available for deaf and for autism, but not for both,” Poole said. “It was very frustrating.”

Three years ago, Poole’s hairdresser suggested the Rising Lights Program in St. Charles, a nonprofit that serves adults with disabilities with opportunities for socialization and education.

“The first time she went, she absolutely loved it,” Poole said. “She connected. She said, ‘I want to go back there.’ That’s how it all started.”

Callie goes to programs twice a week, as Rising Lights also provides a sign language interpreter for her. And if the interpreter is unavailable, whoever is running the program writes on her device so she can keep up, Poole said.

“What it does for her – I’m feeling like it’s not just a place she goes to – it has been her whole life,” Poole said. “It’s integrated into every part of her life.”

Callie now meets friends she’s made there, not only when she’s at a program, Poole said.

“Rising Lights Project has improved my life,” Callie said in a text message. “I’ve made lots of friends and have a social life now. I didn’t have friends or a social life before Rising Lights.”

Rising Lights, a 501(c)3 charity, will mark its five-year anniversary with a gala fundraising event from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at the Q Center, 1405 N. Fifth Ave., St. Charles to support its programming.

Tickets are $190 and about 400 people are expected, Founder Jaimie Valentini said.

“It includes drinks, dinner and impactful stories that we hear from our families,” Valentini, a former special education teacher, said.

“We started a day program for adults 22 and older who are developmentally or intellectually disabled at a garden in Elburn with seven adults. Now we are serving over 73 adults per month ... throughout the whole month,” Valentini said. “We have programming four days a week and one evening.”

Participants go bowling, decorate cookies, make candles and bath bombs, have sessions with a music therapist, cooking classes, and recently had a Mardi Gras party, Valentini said.

“Our goal is to enrich the next chapter of their lives with age-appropriate living skills,” Valentini said. “We have six program goals that focus on living meaningful lives, connection and friendship.”

Some programs are held at their headquarters, 2015 Dean St., St. Charles. Others are held on location among their 100-plus community partners – such as with Mary Zupke of Geneva, who has her own nonprofit The Garden Plate LLC – and who teaches two cooking classes per month at the Fox Den Cooking School in St. Charles for Rising Lights.

“What I love is that no matter what – if they’re deaf or not able to speak or if they have autism or Down syndrome – everyone is around the table chopping and dicing fruits and vegetables and fresh herbs and trying new foods," Zupke said. “And they are so proud of the foods they are making.”

Ratatouille, tortillas, crepes, fruit salsa, chocolate chai pudding and pasta are among the dishes they’ve made, Zupke said.

“Some participants are taking recipes home and making them for their families,” Zupke said. “They’re sending me pictures of them cooking at home with their families, and that is so cool.”

Rising Lights serves 16 communities, including Virgil, Geneva, St. Charles, Batavia, Maple Park, North Aurora, Gilberts, Campton Hills, Carpentersville, Elgin and Aurora. More information about Rising Lights and tickets for the gala are available online at www.risinglightsproject.org.

A special Campton Hills Joint Review Board meeting on the increment finance district for the development is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 9 at Lord of Life Church, 40W605 Illinois Route 38, Campton Hills.

The Campton Hills Village Board approved the annexation of LaFox of Campton Hills in September of 962 acres with 900 homes and 440 acres of open space proposed by Shodeen Development.

Village officials hired SB Friedman Development Advisors to create an eligibility report on whether the area qualifies for a TIF district, which it does, because it has blighted conditions of flooding and lack of development, according to the report.

A TIF – or tax increment finance district – is a development tool local governments use to encourage development or redevelopment in blighted areas that would be too expensive to improve with private investment alone. It freezes the assessed value level of property and diverts increased property tax revenue to the TIF to pay for specific public improvements, rather than to the local taxing bodies.

A TIF can last up to 23 years, or longer if the legislature approves an extension.

According to the Joint Review Board agenda, representatives will be present from Campton Hills, Kane County, Blackberry Township, Waubonsee Community College, Geneva District 304, Geneva Park District, Geneva Public Library and the Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District.

The Joint Review Board’s vote on a TIF district is advisory, not binding.

The agenda includes an overview of the board’s duties, of the proposed redevelopment project area and of the eligibility report, as well as public comment, a question and answer period for the board and then a vote for a recommendation to the Campton Hills Village Board.

State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, on Monday sent out text messages to his constituents, urging them to vote no on the Geneva Police Department referendum.

“This is way too much for our new police station,” Ugaste’s text stated. “Taxpayers must speak up. ... Vote NO on the $60M referendum and oppose higher property taxes on March 17. ... Republican State Representative Dan Ugaste.”

In an attempt to reach out to voters ahead of the election, city officials have hosted in-person and virtual tours of the current police facility, informational sessions and a podcast.

Ugaste and other local officials attended a leadership breakfast at City Hall Feb. 9, which included a tour of the current facility. The chosen location is on 17 acres the city already owns next to the Public Works facility on South Street – acreage currently leased to the Geneva Park District for ballfields.

Neighbors of the park have come out against it – and Ugaste is one of them.

“My house is right across the street,” Ugaste said.

Though Ugaste said he’s against the referendum because of the cost, Mayor Kevin Burns called him a “NIMBY” – an acronym for Not In My Back Yard, a common vernacular used by those to voice opposition to something in their neighborhood.

“When the Geneva City Council unanimously voted to approve the South Street location for a new Geneva Police Station, Dan expressed concerns to me and others that a police station ‘so close to his home would negatively impact his home value,’” Burns said.

“Dan’s aggressive opposition to the proposed police station has nothing to do with numbers, as he asserts, and everything to do with blatant NIMBYism,” Burns said.

Ugaste is not thrilled at the location, but he said his issue is cost and that the ballfields flood, which adds to the construction cost.

“If the numbers made sense, I would not have a leg to stand on,” Ugate said. “If the numbers made sense, then it would be ‘Not In My Backyard.’ ... Everyone else is building for half the price of what Geneva wants to spend.”

He cited the St. Charles facility, which cost $24,600 in 2019, and a South Elgin Police Department, which spent $22 million in 2024.

The difference, officials said, is the other municipalities had sites with existing underground infrastructure, while the South Street site does not.

In an email, South Elgin Deputy Police Chief Brett Czechowski said the site for their new police facility had underground utilities in place. But the village still needed to build modern utility connections as well as remove bedrock and put in backfill to support the foundation.

The city has a comparison chart on the referendum page of its website.

If Geneva could build its facility for $20 million, Ugaste said he would support it, even at that location.

That, Burns said, “is like a basketball team losing a game and saying at the press conference – ‘if only the other players weren’t so tall and so good we would have beat them.’”

All things being equal, Ugaste and the immediate neighbors in the Dover Ridge subdivision still would rather have a new police facility somewhere else.

“There has to be more than one spot in Geneva that can be used for a police department,” Ugaste said.

He could not say where that might be, or what it might cost to buy additional property.

Ugaste said he agrees Geneva police could use a new police station, but it should cost less.

“I’m against this one because it’s too costly – $60 million is a ridiculous sum,” Ugaste said. “Why do we need to spend $60 million for a police station and an increase on property taxes ... for 20 years?”

City officials have also said they would sell the current location in the city’s downtown and use the proceeds to lower the cost of the bonds.

Burns also interpreted Ugaste’s position as one that does not support his local police – even though his campaign website states: “Due to his ongoing commitment to keeping our streets safe, enforcing the laws and supporting the police, Dan Ugaste has been endorsed by both the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police and the Safe Suburbs USA organization.”

“I’m surprised that someone who espouses uncompromising support of the police on his official State of Illinois website and various social media platforms is now actively campaigning against his own city’s police department,” Burns said.

“I will continue to work with and on behalf of law enforcement in my capacity as a state lawmaker to make sure our citizens stay safe and our police officers stay safe,” Ugaste stated on his campaign website. “It is a tough job for which we need to provide the best training, equipment and support that we can afford.”

The contest is open to all high school sophomores and juniors who attend school in Kane County.

First proclaimed by President Eisenhower in 1958, Law Day on May 1 recognizes the rule of law and the role of the legal system in protecting liberty and promoting justice, the release stated.

This year’s contest aligns with the Law Day theme, “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.”

The rule of law is the idea that no person is above the law, and is what ensures people’s rights to live as freely as possible and to pursue their dreams, according to the Law Day website, www.americanbar.org.

The essay contest is intended to engage students and the community in discussion of these ideals.

Contest details are online at www.illinois16thjudicialcircuit.org.

Entries are accepted via email to schmidellen@16thCircuit.IllinoisCourts.gov until 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 10.

The Kane County Bar Foundation donated prizes for each grade category, $500 for first place and $250 each for second and third place.

The contest will include a new Law Day Spirit Award to honor a Kane County individual or organization that exemplifies the principles of Law Day.

Six students were named essay contest winners last year.

The lowest most qualified bid was from Information Controls Inc. of Loves Park.

The recommendation from the Committee of the Whole also included a 10% increase for change orders, with a total cost not to exceed $40,538 for the cameras at entrances and around the perimeter of the buildings.

City Administrator Alex Voigt would approve the change orders, officials said.

“There have been some incidents that have occurred at various city buildings that it would have benefited us to have cameras,” Voigt said. “Also, just general safety and security for some of our folks that work different hours. ... It’s a proactive approach. We have cameras at some of our city facilities and they have been very helpful.”

The work to install the cameras includes the cameras themselves along with cabling and parts to be connected to the city’s existing video recording system.

“We’re not purchasing any software right now, other than per-camera license fees just to get them up and running,” Facilities Manager Pete Adams said.

“We do have a cloud-based system that we are actively using for recording and storage footage right now,” Adams said.

The City Council will take final action on the contract.

The city-owned property next to the Public Works building will be the site for a new police station if voters approve the $59.4 million public safety referendum on the March 17 primary ballot.

And that means the name Sam Hill Park will have to move.

Neighbors in the 42-home Dover Ridge subdivision, such as Rob Humphreys, object.

“All the neighbors are upset,” Humphreys said. “He was a legacy in that neighborhood.”

Humphreys said the city should explore other places to build a police station.

“There’s a lot of history in this neighborhood because Sam and Carolyn Hill founded this neighborhood,” Humphreys said. “It’s her name and her family’s name which we’re trying to honor her park and keep it in her family.”

Fifth Ward Alderpersons Mark Reinecke and Jeff Palmquist met with him and about 25 neighbors a couple of weeks ago.

“Mark and I were happy to meet with the neighbors and answer questions,” Palmquist said. “The Facilities Master Plan did explore quite a few different sites, but this was the one that emerged as the preferred site.”

The meeting with alderpersons included Carolyn Hill, Sam’s widow, who now lives in Batavia.

“It was a very emotional meeting,” Humphreys said. “She made a comment to the alderman, ‘What do I tell my children and grandchildren about Sam Hill Park demolished for a police department?’”

Humphreys said the response was, “‘We’ll just move the sign.’”

“Not good enough,” Humphreys said. “It was a slap in the face to the widower.”

Carolyn Hill agreed.

“Yes it was,” she said.

“He [Sam Hill] was very pro Geneva – city or parks – but I’m not sure he would have said, ‘Put the sign somewhere else,’” Carolyn Hill said.

“The city has always been a proponent of open space and parks,” Carolyn Hill said. “The primary issue is losing the park, taking the open space. ... I think the neighbors need to feel they have a right to protest a location.”

Geneva Park District Board President Jay Moffat said the district is under its second 25-year lease of the South Street ballfields with the city.

If the referendum passes, negotiations have already started about finding land to replace the ballfields, he said.

“Yes, we the park district are concerned, but we believe we have a good cooperative arrangement with the city moving forward to find additional space to put the ballfields,” Moffat said. “It would be unfortunate to lose the ballfields, but it’s the reality of what is in the better interest of the entire population of Geneva. I’m sure we are going to find something that would be appropriate.”

Most people don’t even call it Sam Hill Park, Moffat said.

The 17-acre site is noted on the park district’s website as South Street Athletic Fields.

“We are concerned about losing those two ballfields,” Moffat said. “There’s 50 games a year there, not to mention all the practice that takes place on those fields. We are confident the city and park district will work cooperatively to find a location to build new ballfields to take care of that situation.”

Mayor Kevin Burns added that the city and park district have a long history of collaboration.

“Should the voters approve the referendum, the park district and neighbors can rest assured that the city will partner with all stakeholders to ensure minimal disruptions in the immediate and long-term,” Burns said.

As to where Sam Hill Park would move, Moffat said they could memorialize him in another area.

“We will definitely have something named after Sam Hill,” Moffat said. “Sam Hill was a true statesman in the community, a rare thing in these days.”

Moffat said the nearby skate park would also have to be relocated.

“It’s a good idea about moving the skate park to an area with more intense use than the current location – more in the geographic center of the park district,” Moffat said.

Dustin J. Dunn, 30, was charged with soliciting and possessing child sexual abuse videos and photos, indecent solicitation of a child, solicitation to meet a child and sexual exploitation of a child, according to the release.

State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser alleged that between Sept. 17 and Jan. 28, on separate occasions, Dunn exposed himself to each minor on live video chat and solicited them to undress and perform sexual acts on camera, according to the release.

Mosser also alleged that Dunn sent messages to each minor indicating plans to meet up for the purpose of performing sexual acts with them, according to the release. Officials said he knew or should have know the minors were under 18.

While property records show Dunn lives in McHenry County, the incidents occurred in Kane County, according to the release. Dunn is being detained at the Kane County jail, authorities said. His next court date is March 6.

The most serious charges Dunn faces, according to authorities, are five counts of soliciting child sexual abuse material, which are Class X felonies, punishable by six to 30 years in prison if convicted.

The student pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft at the time. An instructor was observing from the ground near the airport, 43W636 Illinois Route 30, according to a statement from Aurora Public Safety Media Manager Jim Levicki.

The hard landing caused minor damage to the aircraft. No injuries were reported, however.

One runway was temporarily affected, but the airport remained open and fully operational during the emergency response, according to the statement.

The Federal Aviation Administration responded to the scene and is investigating the crash.

This is a developing story which could be updated.